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Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Hello, Goodbye, and Merry Christmas!

Gifts are wrapped. I've done the last minute running around. Even the dog? He is looking snazzy and groomed to Christmas perfection. We've found ways to give to friends and family who need a little extra this year.

And I'm excited, man. So excited. I get my husband home for 4.5 days. It might not seem like much---but it's heaven.

I can picture it now. The fresh brewed coffee in the morning. Breakfast. Enjoying the squeals and smiles of our little girl---together. Yes, please.

We'll be seeing so much family over the holidays. But the nice thing is? All our family lives within 15 minutes. No crazy traveling, and I love it that way.

We'll be spending Christmas Eve morning as a little family exchanging gifts. Just us. We'll make a big!huge! deal out of everything and pretend that Emeline knows what the heck is going on, even when all she REALLY cares about is crinkling the wrapping paper. But we'll have a heck of a time documenting the fun.

We'll spend Christmas Eve with Declan's family. Having a beautiful candlelit hungarian meal prepared by his dad (Sidenote: Dec's dad is from Hungary. Did you know that? He's a grand cook. End sidenote.), singing carols, reading the Christmas story, coaxing the kids to smile for the annual Christmas stocking picture, and then present giving/receiving.

We'll crawl into bed for a few hours and then wakeup like giddy (err..groggy) kids. Snuggle our girl, and then pack up and head to my family's.

We'll spend the entire day of Christmas in our pj's (the three granddaughters all have matching pjs. cuteness.), sprawled out all over my parents living room by the fireplace.

We eat cinnamon buns. Sip coffee. And very slowly go through the 23912809 gifts under the tree. We don't rush, because we have nowhere else to be. We are not one of those families that tears into the gifts. It's a slow thing. An enjoyed time.

At some point we decide (in our pj's, still) to make Christmas dinner....or lunch. Together, we help my mom prepare our feast. It's kind of an 'eat, drink and be merry' type of day. At some point, we'll even blow out the candles on a "Happy Birthday Jesus" cake for the kiddies.

I love Christmas.

I'm so glad to finally be feeling it a bit more.

So? With that said...

I'm off.

To, you know....decorate cookies, finish the wrapping, enjoy the last of the twinkly lights, go on some holiday excursions, and document every.stinkin.second of my girls' first Christmas.

I may pop in here or there. I may not.

But, I do wish you all one pretty fabulous Holiday.

***

[I wish I could send you all one---but here's a virtual 'From our home to yours...']

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I'm katie and this is my husband, Declan. We're the parents to three little ladies, and have a love for adventure. Recently moved from PA all the way to Sunny San Diego. Documenting a little here and there, or something like that. Email: katieballa@gmail.com